Previous wānanga.
Upcoming Events
Tūranga | Gisborne
- Wednesday 4th June 2025
- 5.30pm – 8pm
- Waikanae Surf Lifesaving Club
For more information on these events email ally.tamihere@tpoom.co.nz
What is Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic fever is an illness that can happen after a strep throat infection if it’s not treated properly with antibiotics. It can cause swelling and damage in the body, especially to the heart, and can lead to long-term heart problems.
In Aotearoa, Māori and Pacific children are much more likely to get rheumatic fever than non-Māori. This is often because of things like crowded housing and trouble getting to a doctor quickly. The best way to prevent it is to get sore throats checked and treated early, especially in tamariki. Making sure everyone has warm, dry homes and good access to healthcare also helps protect against it.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of rheumatic fever usually start about one to five weeks after your child has been infected with the Strep bacteria.
While each person may experience symptoms differently, the following are the most common symptoms of rheumatic fever:
- Swelling and pain in your elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles.
- Swelling, tenderness, and hotness over multiple joints.
- You may also notice a skin rash, fever
- Jerky movements.
- Tiredness
- Breathlessness
Over time, most of these symptoms will go away but any damage to your heart may stay.
Symptoms of rheumatic fever may resemble other medical conditions. If you think you or your child may have rheumatic fever, see your doctor immediately.
Preventing Rheumatic Fever
Get sore throats checked quickly to prevent Strep A throat infections from developing into rheumatic fever.
There are lots of places you can have a sore throat checked:
- You can go to your doctor or nurse. You may have to pay a fee; phone ahead to check.
- Contact your local pharmacy to find out if they provide free sore throat checking.
- Your child’s school may have a free sore throat checking programme – contact them to find out.
- If a Strep A throat infection is diagnosed, antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent rheumatic fever and the full 10-day course of antibiotics need to be taken, even if you feel better.
Living with Rūmātiki | Rheumatic Fever
To prevent more episodes of rheumatic fever that can lead to rheumatic heart disease, it is important to stop further strep throat infections. This requires penicillin injections every 28 days for at least 10 years. These injections may be needed into adulthood.
If you or your tamariki and rangatahi have rheumatic fever you may also require:
- Time off school
- To reduce or stop exercise until your body has recovered — you should only return to normal activity when it is determined safe by your medical team
- Regular dental checks and extra care of teeth and gums
- An annual flu vaccine as well as your regular childhood and COVID-19 immunisations.
The flu vaccine is free for people who have rheumatic heart disease. Immunisations are important for people who have had rheumatic fever to prevent other illnesses which can affect heart health, like flu and COVID-19.
Our Rohe
Our Partners
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga is a family-focused organisation who have been working with whānau to achieve their goals and general wellbeing for more than 38 years. Holistic, personalised plans are central to delivery of care, support and development for individuals, whānau and communities.
Underpinning this are their organisational values – which are woven through everything they do: Kaitiakitanga, Whakamana, Kotahitanga and Whanaungatanga. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga are the mandated political leader of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga and fourteen Heretaunga Marae are represented by the 15 elected trustees who form the governance board.
Te Tai Tokerau – Wendy Dreadon.
Ko Maungataniwha te maunga
Ko Tapapa te awa
Ko Ngāpuhi te Whare tipuna
Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka
Ko Kohatutaka te hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te Iwi
Te Tairāwhiti – Ally Tamihere
Ko Maungahaumī rāua Ko Makeo ōku maunga
Ko Waipaoa ko Waiaua ngā awa.
Ko Horouta, ko Mataatua ngā waka,
Ko Takitimu ko Ōmarumutu ngā marae,
Ko Te Whanau-ā-Kai, Nga Potiki, ko Ngati Ruatakena ngā hapū,
Ko Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki ko Te Whakatohea ngā iwi.
